There is still no consensus definition of complex systems. This article explores, as a heuristic
approach, the possibility of using notions associated with life as transversal concepts for defining complex systems. This approach
is developed within a general classification of systems, with complex systems considered as a general 'living things' category and
living organisms as a specialised class within this category. Concepts associated with life are first explored in the context of
complex systems: birth, death and lifetime, adaptation, ontogeny and growth, reproduction. Thereafter, a refutation approach is used
to test the proposed classification against a set of diverse systems, including a reference case, edge cases and immaterial complex
systems. The summary of this analysis is then used to generate a definition of complex systems, based on the proposal, and within
the background of cybernetics, complex adaptive systems and biology. Using notions such as 'birth' or 'lifespan' as transversal
concepts may be of heuristic value for the generic characterization of complex systems, opening up new lines of research for
improving their definition.

KEY WORDS

complex systems, life concepts, refutation approach, heuristic

CLASSIFICATION

JEL:

Z13

PACS:

87.18.-h, 89.75.-k

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